Screen sharing in Google Meet depends on browser permissions that are separate from camera and microphone permissions, which is why it can fail even when video and audio work fine.
1. Grant screen recording permission (Mac specifically)
On macOS, browsers need explicit Screen Recording permission, separate from camera/mic access. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording and confirm your browser is toggled on. If you just enabled it, you'll need to fully quit and reopen the browser for it to take effect — a simple tab refresh isn't enough.
2. Check what you're trying to share
Google Meet gives three options: your entire screen, a specific window, or a Chrome tab. If you're trying to share a single window and it's not appearing in the list, make sure that window isn't minimized — minimized windows often don't show up as shareable options.
3. Share a Chrome tab for audio
If you need to share audio (like a video playing on your screen) and people can see your screen but not hear it, you likely shared your full screen or a window instead of a tab. Only the Chrome Tab sharing option includes an "Also share tab audio" checkbox — switch to that option specifically if audio matters.
Tip: tab audio sharing only works in Chrome and Chromium-based browsers (like Edge). It's not available in Firefox or Safari.
4. Restart the browser
If the share screen button is greyed out or unresponsive with no clear reason, fully quit and reopen your browser. Screen sharing permissions can get stuck in a bad state that a page reload doesn't clear.
5. Check for conflicting screen recording software
Other apps that also use screen capture (recording software, some antivirus tools, remote desktop apps) can occasionally block browser-level screen sharing. If you have anything like this running, try closing it before sharing.
The bottom line
Most Google Meet screen share issues come down to a missing permission (especially on Mac) or sharing the wrong source for what you actually need. Check Screen Recording permission first if you're on Mac — it's the most common single cause.